Ron Schmittling is a renowned Mental Performance Coach and author of Winning Starts Within who contributes articles frequent with us.

Ron is excellent at providing ideas, tips and training on how to improve “mental performance for fastpitch athletes!

In today’s post, Ron tells us how to proactively work on removing negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones.

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It starts quietly.

• A late swing.
• A misread hop.
• A pitch that just misses.

Then the thought shows up:

“What’s wrong with me today?”

That single thought doesn’t feel dangerous — but it’s often the moment a good game starts slipping away.

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The Thought Isn’t the Problem

Athletes don’t struggle because negative thoughts appear… Everyone has them.

The problem is what happens after the thought.

Most athletes:

• Argue with it
• Judge themselves for having it
• Try to “think positive”
• Or spiral into mechanics

That reaction gives the thought power.

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Why One Thought Turns Into a Slump

The brain is a prediction machine.

When a negative thought goes unchecked, the brain starts searching for evidence to confirm it.

One miss becomes:

• “Here we go again.”
• “I can’t get out of this.”
• “Don’t mess this up.”

The athlete hasn’t lost ability.

They’ve lost mental control of attention.

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The Rule Elite Athletes Follow

Elite performers don’t eliminate negative thoughts. They don’t engage with them.

They treat thoughts like background noise — not instructions.

The key question isn’t:

“Why am I thinking this?”

It’s:

“What do I need to focus on next?”

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The 3-Step Thought Reset

When a negative thought shows up mid-game, use this sequence.

1. Name It

Simply acknowledge:

“That’s a thought.”

• Not truth.
• Not identity.
• Just a thought.

This alone reduces its impact.

2. Redirect Attention

Immediately shift focus outward:

• “See the ball early.”
• “Attack the zone.”
• “Quick feet.”

Attention is fuel.

Where it goes, performance follows.

3. Take Action

Movement locks the reset:

• Step out
• Reset posture
• Deep breath
• Step back in

Action closes the loop.

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Why This Works

Thoughts gain power when they’re analyzed and they lose power when attention moves forward.

The athlete who recovers fastest isn’t the one with the fewest negative thoughts — it’s the one who doesn’t linger on them.

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Your Challenge This Week:

• For Athletes:

When a negative thought appears, name it and redirect immediately

• For Coaches:

Stop correcting thoughts. Start redirecting focus

• For Parents:

If your athlete shares frustration, don’t fix it — ask, “What’s your next focus?”

Mental strength isn’t positive thinking… it’s attention control.

That’s the mental edge!

— Ron Schmittling for Line Drive Softball

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Previous Articles:

• Mental Mindset: Why “Just Relax” Is the Worst Advice in Softball (Jan. 5, 2026)
• Mental Mindset: The 5-Second Rule That Separates Winners from Quitters (December 13, 2025)
• Mental Mindset: From Dropout Statistics to Champions… Why the Mental Game Can’t Wait (November 24, 2025)
• Mental Mindset: Why Confidence Disappears in Games (and How to Build It Back) Jan. 19, 2026

Want More?

NEW BOOK: 

Written specifically for softball athletes, Into The Storm (Book 1 of the Lighthouse Trilogy) follows the emotional and mental battles of one athlete’s journey, teaching how resilience, confidence, and focus are built one pitch, one play, and one response at a time. Available on Amazon… CLICK HERE!

NEW COURSE: 

Athlete Level 1 – Foundations is a new foundational online course designed for softball players, helping them develop focus, emotional control, and confidence under pressure. 

Learn more by CLICKING HERE!

COACHES:

Want your whole team trained in these tools? I deliver 60-90 minute workshops where players and teams learn and apply these techniques immediately.

Ron’s Podcast LINK

Author Bio

THE MENTAL EDGE is written by Ron Schmittling, MPM—Certified Mental Performance Coach, NFCA Coach of the Year finalist, and author of Winning Starts Within.

After more than a decade coaching and directing a national fastpitch program with a 100 percentage college placement rate, Ron now trains the mental side of the game, helping athletes stay composed under pressure, reset fast, and compete with clarity and confidence.

Here’s how to access Ron directly and via his info on social media:

• E-mail: ron@coachronmpm.com

• Online (website): coachronmpm.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachronmpm

Want More? Here are More Ways to Get Ron’s Great Insights into Having the Mental Edge:

*30 Day Mental Performance Challenge

My challenge helps fastpitch athletes, coaches and parents train the mental side of the game with simple, daily tools for confidence, focus and fast recovery when pressure hits.  Click HERE to join

*”Winning Starts Within” (Ron’s book & E-book)

My book breaks down the 10 mental skills every athlete needs—including the 3 R’s, routines, visualization, and how to build confidence that doesn’t crack under pressure. Available on Amazon or CoachRonMPM.com.

* Mental Edge Workshops

Coaches: how would you like your whole team trained in these tools? I deliver 60-to-90-minute workshops where players and teams learn and apply these techniques immediately.

Here is the link to his 1:1 Coaching or Team Informational Session Link.